Portable wardrobe, cupboard, or the like



Feb. s, 1938. M, KRANTZ 2,107,828

PORTABLE WARDROBE, CUPBOARD, OR THE LIKE 2 Sheets-Shet 1 Filed Dec. 7, 193 6 .ZZIGLZ.

Feb. 8, 1938. M. 'KRANTZ PORTABLE WARDROBE, CUPBOARD, OR THE LIKE F'jiled Dec. 7, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Feb. s, 1938 PATENT OFFICE PORTABLE WARDROBE, CUPBOARD, OR THE LIKE Morris Krantz, London, England Application December 7, 1936, Serial No. 114,686 In Great Britain December 14, 1935 2 Claims.

This invention relatesto a new or improved wardrobe, cupboard or the like and has in view to provide an article of this nature which will stand rigidly upon a floor and which is sewn- 5 structed as to be impervious to the entry of moths and other insects so that there will be no risk of damage to clothing or other articles contained within the wardrobe, cupboard or the like, from that source. A further object is to provide an article fulfilling these requirements which will be capable of cheapproduction and which canv be soconstructed as. to be readily collapsible.

According to the invention there is provided a collapsible Wardrobe comprising in combination a Q; box-like, flexiblebag having an entry slit fitted I with a sliding clasp fastener, and an internal su'pporting frame comprising upright rigid side frames-connected together by top and bottom cross members at the frontand back which are adapted to be manipulated to .allow the side frames to be closed together, the entry slit of I the bag being arranged to give access for such manipulation.

Collapsible wardrobes of practical form inaccordancewith the invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the bag or envelope broken away to show the supporting frame.

' Figure 2 is a front view showing the entry mouth partly open.

I Figure 3 is a cross section on III-III in Figure 2, and

Figure 4 is a fragmentary view showing one of the top reinforcement corner pieces.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a supporting frame of modified form shown in open condition.

Figure 6 is an endview of the upper part of said frame when folded.

Figure 7 is a front view, drawn to a reduced scale of a: modification in which each of the side frame members is adapted to fold, and one of said frames is shown folded, and

Figure 8 is a fragmentary View showing a locking device for the folding side frames employed.

Referring to the drawings (Figures 1 to 4) the supporting frame comprises a pair of rectangular upright wooden side frames or sections 5 which bar 8 may have screw-threaded ends passed through holes in the bars 6 and fitted with clamping nutsr The frame shown in Figure l is enclosed entirely withina flexible bag or envelope 9 which it serves to rigidly support, said bag or envelope being made of a material such as rubber-treated fabric, which will be impervious to the passage of moths or other insects through it. Said bag or envelope is attached to the side frames 5 by means ofscrews passed through metal eyelets I0 furnished on reinforcement corner pieces ll (Figure 4). V

The bag or envelope is formed in its front face a with a slit l2 provided on opposite edges with cooperating toothed elements of a sliding clasp fastener As shown, the slit has a section I3 adjacent one side which extends vertically upwards from a position near the bottom, and near the top of the article said section continues into a laterally extending section By this deviation from a rectilinear path, a flap I5 is formed which falls H forwardly when the clasp of the fastener is pulled down to the bottom of the slit. If desired, the lateral section l4 could be extended down into another vertical section on the left hand side so as to produce a three-sided flap. Alternatively, the vertical section l3 could be extended into a bottom lateral section to produce a three-sided flap.

The side frame members may be fitted with 30 feet I1. For the purpose of supporting the top of the bag or envelope so that it extends straight from side to side without drooping there may be provided a bar l8 shown dotted in Figure 1, which fits, at its ends, into slots l9 cut in the side frame 3 members, this bar being fitted after erection of the frame. Alternatively, a stiffening bar may be'received in a pocket 20 (Figure 4) affixed on the outside of the bag or envelope.

The modified supporting frame shown in Fig- 40 ures 5 and 6 of the drawings comprises rigid rectangular side members 2| of wood or metal which are connected together by means of horizontal cross bars situated near the top and bottom, each of said cross bars comprising two sections 22, 22 of equal length which are pivotally connected together at 23, the said pivot, in the case of the two upper bars, being constituted by a transverse rod 24 which forms a convenient suspension device for garment hangers.

The bar sections 22, 22 are made of springy metal and in the case of each of said sections the main portion thereof is bent in inclined relation to the pivot-fitted portion whereby the free end of each section is given an outward thrust. The

outer ends of said bar sections are pivotally attached to the frame members 2| by means of studs fitted with fly-nuts 25 and stops for preventing removal of said nuts, and in the regions of said studs, grooves are formed in the frame member in which grooves are fitted metal channel pieces 26, the width of each channel piece being such that the associatedcross-bar section is a close fit therein. It will be understood that when the cross bars are moved into the position shown in Figure 5 they will automatically snap into the channel pieces 26 when they become ahgned therewith, this resulting from their outward thrust explained above. Tightening of the nuts 25 will effect locking of the bars in this con,

dition. I 7

To fold the frame it is merely necessary to slacken the nuts 25 without removing them, and press the ends of the bars out of the channel pieces, at the same time applying a downward pressure in the region of the pivotal connections 23 in the case of the upper, bars and an upward pressure in the caseo'f the lower bars, and this will result in the said bars folding upon them selves and the side members 2| simultaneously approaching one another until the structure assumes a collapsed condition. When opened for use the'frame is absolutely rigid.

As shown in Figure 7 eachof the side members 2i may comprise two sections 21, 28 connected by means oflhinges 29, so as to fold over in outward direction, thereby considerably reducing the dimensions of the frame when collapsed. In this case it is necessary to detach the upper cross bars 22 from one of the side members 2! before folding. In order to maintain the two sections 2?, 28 in aligned relation when the frame is erectedthere is provided in one of said parts (see Figure 8) a metal plate 30 having a projecting portion formed with an end slot for admitting therein a stud 3lfitted on the other section, said stud being fitted with a fly-nut which,

'when tightened, securely holds the two sections in aligned relation.

I claim: 1. A collapsible portable wardrobe comprising,

in combination, a box-like flexible bag having an access flap and an interior collapsible self-supporting frame fitted within said bag, said frame comprising opposite side sectionsincluding upright frame parts rigidly connected at the top and bottom by horizontal frame parts, bolts on the upright frame parts located inwardly of each horizontal frame part, and cross bars serving to hold the side sections in spaced relation, said bars being each constructed to fold upon itself and pivotally attached to said bolts on the upright frame parts, the said upright frame parts being transversely grooved at the location of said bolts to receive the cross bars and lock the same in rectilineal condition.

2. A collapsible portablewardrobe comprising, in combination, a box-like flexible bag having an access fiap and an interior collapsible selfsupporting frame fitted within said bag, said frame comprising opposite side sections'including upright frame parts rigidly connected at the top and bottom by horizontal frame parts, bolts on the upright frame parts, and cross bars serving to hold the side sections'in' spaced'relation, said cross bars each comprising sections pivotally connected together by a transverse rod which couples together opposite cross bars, said cross bar sections being made of spring strip material and to their point .of'connection with said rod, and

the side members of the frame being grooved at the location'of said bolts to receive'the ends of the cross bars and lock them in rectilineal Mortars KRANTZ,

' having their ends sprung outwardly with respect 

